The Western Orthodox Church in America

The Daily Offices

According to the

Anglican Use

Including the Rites for Morning and Evening Prayer together with the Order for Compline

Published With Ecclesiastical Approbation by

The Archdiocese of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest

2007

Daily Evening Prayer:

Rite One

The Officiant begins the service with one or more of the following sentences of Scripture, or sentences from Morning Prayer, or with the versicle: “O God, make speed to save us. ” (p. 4)

Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm 96:9

Thine is the day, O God, thine also the night; thou hast established the moon and the sun. Thou hast fixed all the boundaries of the earth; thou hast made summer and winter. Psalm 74:15, 16

I will bless the Lord who giveth me counsel; my heart teacheth me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. Psalm 16:7, 8

Seek him that made the Pleiades and Orion, that turneth deep darkness into the morning, and darkeneth the day into night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his Name. Amos 5:8

If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to thee, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to thee are both alike. Psalm 139:10, 11

Jesus said, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

The following Penitential Rite may then be said; or the Office may continue at once with: “O God make speed to save us.” (p. 4)

Penitential Rite

The Officiant says to the people

Dear friends in Christ, here in the presence of Almighty God, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, so that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.

or this

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

or this

Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness: and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father: but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying-‑

Officiant and People together, all kneeling

Almighty and most merciful Father,

we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,

we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws,

we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults,

restore thou those who are penitent,

according to thy promises declared unto mankind

in Christ Jesus our Lord;

and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Officiant says

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentence, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his enternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

or this

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us absolution and remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Invitatory and Psalter

All stand

Officiant Ñ O God, make speed to save us.

People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Officiant and People

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Officiant Praise ye the Lord.

People The Lord’s Name be praised.

or, except in Lent, all may say,

Alleluia.

The following, or some other suitable hymn, or an Invitatory Psalm, may be sung or said

O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,

and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Then follows

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

The Lessons

One or two Lessons, as appointed, are read, the Reader first saying

A Reading (Lesson) from_______________________ .

A citation giving chapter and verse may be added. After each Lesson the Reader may say

The Word of the Lord.

Answer Thanks be to God.

Or the Reader may say Here endeth the Lesson (Reading).

Silence may be kept after each Reading. One of the following Canticles, or one of those set forth for Morning Prayer, Rites One and Two is sung or said after each Reading. If three Lessons are used, the Lesson from the Gospel is read after the second Canticle.

The following Canticle shall be sung or said after the first Reading.

The Song of Mary Magnificat

Luke 1:46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded *

the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold from henceforth *

all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me, * and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm; *

he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, * as he promised to our forefathers,

Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

If there be more than one Lesson, the following Canticle shall be sung or said after the last Lesson.

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *

and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

Officiant and People together, all standing

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven,

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Officiant and People

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Then follows one of these sets of Suffrages

� O Lord, show thy mercy upon us; ± And grant us thy salvation.

� Endue thy ministers with righteousness; ± And make thy chosen people joyful.

� Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; ± For only in thee can we live in safety.

� Lord, keep this nation under thy care; ± And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

� Let thy way be known upon earth; ± Thy saving health among all nations.

� Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; ± Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

� Create in us clean hearts, O God; ± And sustain us with thy Holy Spirit.

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat thee, O Lord.

That thy holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat thee, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat thee, O Lord.

That there may be peace to thy Church and to the whole world, We entreat thee, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in thy faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat thee, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by thy Holy Spirit in the communion of Blessed Mary ever virgin, (Saint ) and all thy saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat thee, O Lord.

� O Lord, show thy mercy upon us. ± And grant us thy salvation.

� O Lord, save the State. ± And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

� Endue thy Ministers with righteousness. ± And make thy chosen people joyful.

� O Lord, save thy people. ± And bless thine inheritance.

� Give peace in our time, O Lord. ± For it is thou, Lord, only that maketh us dwell in safety.

� O God, make clean our hearts within us. ± And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects. Traditionally the Office has three Collects, the Collect of the Day and two others, one of which may be a seasonal Collect.

The Collect of the Day

A Collect for Peace

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of all enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Collect for Sundays

Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise thee in that City of which he is the light; and where he liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays

O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth thine unending day upon us who watch for thee, that our lips may praise thee, our lives may bless thee, and our worship on the morrow may give thee glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Protection

O God, who art the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank thee for the timely blessings of the day, and humbly beseech thy merciful protection all the night. Bring us, we pray thee, in safety to the morning hours; through him who died for us and rose again, thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.

Then, unless the Eucharist or a form of general intercession is to follow, one of these prayers for mission is added

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship thee, all nations obey thee, all tongues confess and bless thee, and men and women everywhere love thee and serve thee in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

or the following

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give thine angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for thy love’s sake. Amen.

or this

O God, who dost manifest in thy servants the signs of thy presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another thine abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here may be sung a hymn or anthem.

Authorized intercessions and thanksgivings may follow.

Before the close of the Office one or both of the following may be used

The General Thanksgiving

Officiant and People

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants

do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men.

We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for thine inestimable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee,

give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee

in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost,

be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

Then may be said

Officiant People Officiant People

The Lord be with you. And with thy Spirit. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

From Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost Alleluia, alleluia may be added to the preceding versicle and response.

The Officiant may then conclude with one of the following

~Ñ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

~Ñ May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Daily Morning Prayer:

Rite One

A Hymn may be sung at the entrance of the Ministers.

The Oficiant begins the service with a sentence of Scripture, or with the versicle, “O Lord, open thou our lips.”

Penitential Rite

The Oficiant says to the people

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Al-mighty God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.

or this

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

Oficiant and People together, all kneeling

Almighty and most merciful Father,

we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,

we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws,

we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us,

spare thou those who confess their faults,

restore thou those who are penitent,

according to thy promises declared unto mankind

in Christ Jesus our Lord;

and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous,

and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Oficiant says

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us absolution and

remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Invitatory and Psalter

All stand (Hymnal 601)

Oficiant O Lord, open thou our lips.

People And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Oficiant and People

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Except in Lent, Alleluia is added. Then follows the Invitatory Psalm.

Venite Psalm 95: 1-7; 96:9, 13

For the Lord is a | great | God, *

and a great | King a- | bove all | gods.

The sea is his and | he | made it, *

and his | hands pre- | pared the . dry | land.

O come, let us worship and | fall | down *

and kneel be- | fore the | Lord our | Maker.

For he is the | Lord our | God, *

and we are the people of his pasture | and the | sheep . of his | hand.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever | shall be, * world without | end. | A- | men.

In Easter Week, in place of an Invitatory Psalm, the following is sung or said. It may also be used daily until the Day of Pentecost.

Christ our Passover Pascha nostrum

I Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; I Corinthians 15:20-22

Alleluia, | alle- | luia.

Alle | luia, | alle- | luia.

Christ our Passover is | sacri-ficed | for us, * therefore | let us | keep the feast,

Not with old leaven,

Christ is | risen . from the | dead, *

and become the | first-fruits . of | them that | slept.

For since by | man came | death, *

by man came also the resur- | rection | of the | dead.

For as in Adam | all | die, *

even so in Christ shall | all be | made a- | live.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever | shall be, * world without | end. | A- | men.

Then follows

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

At the end of the Psalms is sung or said

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever | shall be, * world without | end. | A- | men.

The Lessons

One or two Lessons, as appointed, are read, the Reader first saying

A Reading (Lesson) from________ .

A citation giving chapter and verse may be added. After each Lesson the Reader may say

The Word of the Lord. Answer Thanks be to God.

Or the Reader may say

Here endeth the Lesson (Reading).

Silence may be kept after each Reading. One of the following Canticles is sung or said after each Reading.

We Praise Thee Te Deum laudamus

To thee all Angels | cry a- | loud,

the Heavens and | all the | Powers . there- | in.

Holy, | holy, | holy,

Lord | God of | Sa-ba- | oth;

Heaven and | earth are | full

of the | majesty | of thy | glory.

The glorious company of the apostles | praise | thee.

The goodly fellowship of the | prophets | praise | thee.

The Father, of an | infinite | majesty, thine adorable, true, and only Son,

also the | Holy | Ghost the | Comforter.

thou didst humble thy- | self .to be | born . of a | virgin.

When thou hadst overcome the | sharpness . of | death,

thou didst open the kingdom of | heaven .to | all be- | lievers.

We believe that thou shalt come to | be our | judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,

whom thou hast redeem-ed | with thy | precious | blood.

And we worship thy Name ever, | world with- | out | end.

Vouch- | safe, O | Lord,

to keep us this | day with- | out | sin;

A Song of Praise Benedictus es, Domine

Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34

The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus

Luke 1:68-79

As he spake by the mouth of his | holy | prophets, *
which have | been . since the | world began:

Through the tender mercy | of our | God, *

whereby the dayspring from on | high hath | visit-ed | us;

To give light to them that sit in darkness

and in the | shadow . of | death, *

and to guide our | feet in .to the | way of | peace.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever | shall be, * world without | end. | A- | men.

The Apostles’ Creed

Oficiant and People together, all standing

BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven,

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The people stand or kneel

Oficiant The Lord be with you.

People And with thy spirit.

Oficiant Let us pray.

(Hymnal 601)

Oficiant and People

UR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory

for ever and ever. Amen.